Monday, March 3, 2014

Halfway Baby!

Hello there family :)

It’s
been a craaaazy week here! I hate how fast time is flying. What am I gonna do
when I have to leave this area?! I just want to stay here 9 more months
pleeeease?

This
week “C” got baptized!!! I’ve never been more excited for a baptism. I can’t
even describe how awesome it was. He was SO excited. He said, "I don’t
cry, but today I might have shed a tear or two." Awwww :) He has come SO
far. I remember when I was scared of him. I remember the lessons I dreaded with
him because he never talked. I remember when all he talked about was the voices
he was hearing. I remember when we almost gave up on him. Now look at him! I
wish you could all see the differences in him! Now he smiles. Now he laughs.
Now he’s happy :) One of my favorite baptisms.

As
great as it was though, we still had craziness. Every baptism always has some
sort of bump in the road. Seriously. After his interview Thursday we went to
have Family Home Evening (with two NEW families, I might add) and it was gonna be
super great... But then our zone leader called and said, "Hermana Arce!
Leave everything you’re doing and get to the airport! You have 40 minutes until
your plane leaves!" The stinkin assistants forgot to tell us she had to go
to Lima to get her visa! We seriously took off running to grab a few clothes and
head to the airport. Hermana Arce was SO bummed. She had to miss the baptism :(
We had this baptism scheduled for Friday and it was too late to change plans.
But God has a plan. I ended up being with Hermana Burton and Hermana Cuevas and
they decided to bring an investigator the baptism. Well, this investigator has
all the lessons and she just didn’t want to accept a date. But at this baptism
she felt the spirit so strong and as we were talking with her afterwards she
said she wants to be baptized March 15th. How awesome is that?! Although Hermana
Arce and I were thinking it was bad timing that this had to happen on this day,
but now looking back I know that God had this planned all along. It wasn’t
coincidence. It wasn’t bad timing. It was God’s plan. I don’t know why sometimes
we doubt His plan! His plan is perfect.

All
in all, it was a great night :) What was more interesting was our special
musical number... We had it all planned out. Me, Juan, Edward, and Hermana Arce
had been practicing "A Child’s Prayer." We sang the first verse in
Spanish, second in English, and then me and Juan in English while Edward and Hermana
Arce were singing in Spanish. It was going super great... Until Hermana Arce
had to go to Lima. Hermana Cuevas and Hermana Burton helped, though. But we had
no time to practice so... It was interesting. Juan and I totally rocked it! You’ll
all laugh when you see the video haha. Even the bishop was laughing! A for
effort, right?

Want
my embarrassing story for the week? I don’t even want to talk about it. Hermana
Arce has it all on video, and I’m still speechless. I’m not sure if I told you
about “M”. Well... He seemed super interested! He had had missionaries before
and was wanting to read the Book of Mormon and we thought it was going super
great.... NO. I called him to set up an appointment and it started off super
weird.

Me:
"M”! How are you?"

Him:
"Pretty good... I just can’t sleep though."

Me:
"Oh, I’m sorry. Can we stop by your house tomorrow?"

Him:
"Yeah that’s fine. Can I tell you something?"

Me:
"Yeah..."

Him:
"Something just felt right between us. Is it against the rules for you
Mormons to marry Peruvians?"

I
seriously couldn’t talk, and there Hermana Arce was rolling on the floor
laughing. Let’s just say we haven’t returned to visit him... Such a bummer
though. I thought he was super prepared :(

Probably
one of the greatest things that happened this week happened yesterday. It was
fast and testimony meeting, and one I’ll never forget. Hermano Richard... Who
showed up the first time to the church in jeans and his torn up t-shirt, showed
up in a new white shirt and tie, smiling from ear to ear. Some of our members
helped him get all ready, and he was sitting up there excited to pass the
sacrament with all the other guys. :) We ended up having tons of Priesthood
Sunday so he didn’t pass the sacrament, but guess who got up and bore his
testimony? :) Richard! I was crying. It was one of the greatest moments! He was
like a pro up there! He talked about how hard his life was. How he was on bed
rest all of 2010 because of an overdose and brain damage. Then he talked about
how he ended up here in Piura working in a mechanic shop. One day his co-worker
took him to church. Richard had no idea where they were going... His friend
just said they were gonna go to a special place. He said at first he was super
confused and everyone was asking him his name and he wasn’t quite sure what to
do, but he said that now he feels good. He feels like he’s on the right path
and that God has given him his second chance. It was SO spiritual. Of course
after that, Hermana Arce and I had to share our testimonies too and it was one
of the best meetings I’ve been too. I told Hermana Arce I'm not sure how we’re
gonna find happiness after the mission like we find here in the mission. I love
it!

As
for investigators we’re working real hard with Julio. Pray for him! He’s so
close. Right now his baptism date is for the 15th, but he still has his doubts,
so he needs all the help he can get these next few days.

Also...
Halfway! I can’t even believe 9 months have gone by. I have my first mission
baby! I honestly never thought I’d want time to slow down when I first got
here... But now that’s all I want. 9 more months isn’t enough! I’ve seen so
many changes in people and in this area. I love this area because I don’t feel
like just another missionary. I feel like they’re my family. They’re some of my
closest friends! I never thought I’d have so much love for people that I have
only known such a short amount of time. I’m beyond grateful for my mission. I don’t
know who or where I’d be without it. I remember thinking at first, "This
is awful. Everyone said it was the best time of their lives... Liars!" And
now I know what they meant. It is the most difficult, but rewarding time of my
life. The good definitely outweighs the bad.

I
was reading today in 3 Nephi 2 when the people witness the signs of Christ’s
birth, and then years later they start to forget. Seriously? How could they
forget a day that the sun didn’t set?! But then I was thinking that’s kinda
like we are. We have all received so many answers to our prayers. Too many to
count! Yet sometimes we forget the miracles we’ve witnessed and start to doubt.
We need to remember the miracles! When we have hard times we need to think back
on the many times God has been there for us. If we do that, we will never doubt
and our testimony will never waver.

Time
to go though! Love you all so much! Have a great week! And Tyson... You better
dance alllll night at Prom, and even a little extra for me since I’m not
allowed to :) Talk to you next week!